Machine for the separation of sulfid ores



H. V'. SEALE AND. W. SHEtLSHEAR. MAGHINE FOR THE SEPARATION OF SULFID QRES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.18, I9I6.

1341, 024. Patented May 25, 1920.

NITED STATESIPATENTOFFICE.

HARRY VERNON SEALE AND WILTON SHELLSHEAR, OF BBOKEN HILL, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MINERALS SEPA- RATION NORTH AMERICAN CORPORATION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

Application filed April 18,1916. Serial No. 91,873.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HARRY VERNON SEALE, mill superintendent, and WILTON SHnLLsHEAn, metallurgist, both of Junction North Mine, Broken Hill, in the State of New South Wales, Commonwealth of Australia, subjects of the King of Great Britain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for the Separation of Sulfid Ores, of which the followin is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for the separation of ores by flotation, and refers more especially to apparatus for effecting what is commonly known as froth-flotation separation in which the ores are subjected to aeration and agitation in an aqueous separating medium in the presence of a frothing agent for the formation of a froth containing the metallic ore particles. This mode of separation is most commonly applied to sulfid ores.

This invention is equally applicable to collective separation in which an indiscriminate float concentrate of sulfids or other ores is obtained, or to differential or preferential flotation-separation in which a float concentrate of certain ores or sulfids is obtained by selective flotation which leaves other ores or sulfids unfloated in the tailings.

This invention is applicable to the treatment of ores, concentrates, tailings, slimes or other metallurgical products and it will be understood that in this specification the term ores will include all such metallur ical products as well as crude materials.

conomy of operation and eiiiciency of concentrates recovery are the objects of this invention.

In constructing a machine according to thisinvention we providea number of separating boxes arranged in sequence or series somewhat as shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section.

Fig. 2 is a cross section.

Figs. 3, 4: and '5 are cross sections of various modifications thereof.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail longitudinal sectional view of the shaft-carrying journal-box of the construction of Figs. 1 and 2.

In these drawings three boxes A are shown, the first having a feed hopper B for the ore with inlet B and the last a suitable tition.

discharge outlet C for the residues which may del ver direct into a launder or ma dellyer into a subsidiary residues box having an outlet C at the bottom for the coarse material and a launder C at the top with a regulating overflow lip C. By regulating the overflow li C and adjusting the flow of coarse material through the outlet C the level of the separating liquid in the boxes A may be controlled. The boxes A are connected from one to the other by supplemental level-equalizing passages A in the dividing partitions at the bottom. Mounted throughout the length of the series of boxes is a horizontal shaft D working in suitable glands E on the end partitions and passing through the dividing partitions. Upon this shaft I) are mounted impellers F arranged adjacent to each partition the blades thereof being set to throw the pulp toward the center of the box. Each impeller F is surrounded by a casing G which may be rectangular in shape as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 or semicircular as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Each box or vessel is pro vided with an inwardly projecting baflie one. upon either side inclined toward the top for the purpose of deflecting the froth-forming bubbles as they rise, and these baflies H are surmounted by a V- shaped battle J at the top centrally disposed to deflect the bubbles to either side toward the concentrate launders A provided upon either side for the removal of the float concentrates.

To insure the aeration of the pulp we provide a supply of air under low pressure delivered into the zone of the swirl adjacent to the impellers. For this purpose we provide a main pipe K connected to a source of air at low pressure having downwardly projecting branch pipes K at each par- K being perforated for the delivery of air 7 around the shaft and adjacent to the im The end pipes K are connected pellers F upoii eitherlside and within their- I n Fig. 5 the boxes are made cylindrical, and

of sheet'metal, and the, froth carr ingthe concentrates is'delivered through the spout A* into the launder A". In this instance the impeller casingG is arch-shaped, and one circular equa izing aperture A is out hrough the box partition.

We claim:

1. Flotation-separation apparatus comprising a number of separating boxes, communicating passageways between the boxes below their liquid level, agitating means within the separating boxes below their liquid level and disposed'in the path of pulp flow from box to box,' submerged casings surroundin their zones of agitation, means for introucing air into the casings, and supplementallevel-equalizing passageways'between the separating boxes.

2. F lotation-separation a paratus comprising a number of separating boxes, communicating passageways between the boxes below their liquid level, a horizontal shaft passing through said boxes andtheir said communicating passageways, agitators mounted on the shaft and within the separating boxes below their liquid level and disposed in the pathof pulp flow from box to box, and submerged casings surrounding the agitators, means for introducing air within the casings in proximity to the agitators, and supplemental level-equalizing passageways between the separating boxes.

Flotation-separation apparatus. comprising a separating box with a froth overflow,- a horizontal shaft passing through the box below its 11 uid level, impellers mounted on the shaft wit in the box near its opposite sides and arranged to impel the pulp toward the middle of the box, and casings surrounding the impellers, and means for supplying air to the region of agitation. I

4. Flotation-separation apparatus comprising a separating box with a froth overflow, a horizontal shaft passing through the box below its 1i uid level, impellers mounted on the shaft wit in the box near its opposite sides and arranged to impel the pulp toward -=into the casings liquid level, 1

taiaaaeaa; a, saga, the impellers,and means for introducing air impellers, If

- 5. Flotation-separation Ja'pparatus ."comprising a-number ofseparatmg boxes with respective froth overflows, communicating.

passageways between them, ahorizontal shaft passing tnrough the boxes below their each box two impellers mounted on the shaft and arranged to impel the pulp toward the middle of the box, and

i e f'frr x mi y. 9

a. submerged casing surrounding each impeller.

6. Flotation-separ respective froth" overflows, communicating passageways belt ween them, a horizontal shaft passing th ,ough the boxes below their liquid .level, in] each box two impellers mounted on the shaft and arran ed to impel the pulp toward the middle of the box, a submerged casing surrounding each impeller, and means for introducing air into each casing in proximity to its impeller.

7. F lotation-separation apparatus com-- prising a series of separating boxes communicating successively through passageway's below their liquid level, froth over flows for said boxes, a horizontal shaft passing through said boxes and their communicating passageways, submerged impellers mounted on the shaft'within the separating boxes and in the paths of pulp flow through forcing air into the pipe and through its perforations into the pulp.

ation apparatus comprising a number of separat ng boxes with In testimony whereof we have afiixed our I signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

CLEM A. HACK, G. R. C LLEN. 

